The Trundle

The walk up The Trundle, just outside Chichester, takes about twenty minutes if you're reasonably fit. What you get at the top is a proper Iron Age hill fort with sweeping views across the South Downs - the kind of place where you can actually feel the landscape's bones beneath your feet.

It's accessible enough that families with school-age kids won't struggle, though younger children might need a hand on the steeper bits. The ramparts are still visible, which makes the history tangible rather than academic. You're standing where people actually lived and defended themselves two thousand years ago. On a clear day the views stretch far enough to make the climb worthwhile.

The site itself is free to wander - there's no visitor centre or facilities, so bring water and don't expect loos. An hour is plenty of time to work your way round the fort and take in the vistas. Go on a weekday morning if you want the place mostly to yourself; weekends can get busy with the walking crowd.

For a caravan holiday based near Chichester, The Trundle works well as a morning activity before heading to the coast or exploring the city itself. Chichester Lakeside Holiday Park sits less than five miles away and makes a convenient base. It's not a grand attraction, but it's exactly the sort of low-key South Downs walk that justifies a few nights in the area.